Guide to 7 Common Lawn Weeds

Get a handle on some of the most common weeds by learning how to identify them and how to kill them.

Is your lawn looking less like a lush, green carpet and more like a botanical experiment gone wrong? Weeds happen, even to the best of us. The good news is that identifying and dealing with common lawn weeds doesn’t have to be a daunting task. This guide will help you spot the usual suspects, understand how to get rid of them, and, most importantly, how to keep them from coming back.

1. Dandelion

Dandelions are easy to spot with their jagged, tooth-like leaves that mostly grow flat to the ground. In spring and fall, they sport bright yellow flowers that eventually turn into those iconic white puffballs, perfect for making wishes but unfortunately also great for spreading seeds! Dandelions thrive in lawns that aren’t as dense or healthy as they could be.

2. Crabgrass

This grassy weed has blue-green leaves that branch out in a crab-like fashion. It pops up in the spring but doesn’t usually become noticeable until the summer. You’ll most often find it in thin areas, bare spots, or dry soil. Crabgrass is an annual weed, meaning it dies off with the first hard frost, but not before adding lots of seeds to the soil to germinate next spring.

3. White Clover

This is the classic three-leaf clover that often has white crescent markings on the leaves. Appearing from spring through fall, it's most common in lawns that are thin and lacking in nutrients. While some consider it lucky, white clover can quickly take over if left unchecked.

4. Dollarweed

Dollarweed, also known as pennywort, has round leaves with slightly wavy edges, resembling small coins. In summer months, dollarweed produces white flowers. You’ll find it most often in warmer, southern climates growing in moist, shady areas and bare spots. Despite its name, dollarweed is definitely not something you want in your lawn.

5. Creeping Charlie

Creeping Charlie (also called ground ivy) has round, dark green leaves with scalloped edges and small purple flowers in the spring. It's often found in moist, shady areas with nutrient deficient, poor quality soil. As the name suggests, this weed spreads quickly and can be tough to control.

6. Oxalis

Oxalis has heart-shaped, clover-like leaves and small yellow flowers that bloom in spring and summer. It prefers thin or overly dry lawns. Also known as wood sorrel, oxalis can quickly take over your lawn if conditions are right.

7. Annual Bluegrass (Poa annua)

Despite its name, annual bluegrass is actually bright green in color. This short, grassy weed tends to grow in thin areas of your lawn during the spring and early summer. Annual bluegrass completes its life cycle in a single growing season, but it produces a lot of seed before it dies.

The Action Plan: How to Kill and Prevent Lawn Weeds

Now that you can identify these common culprits, let's talk about how to kick them out and keep them from coming back.

Mow High: Taller grass helps shade the soil, making it harder for weed seeds to germinate.
Water Wisely: Water infrequently but deeply. This encourages deep root growth in your grass, making it more resilient and less susceptible to weed invasions.
Feed Your Lawn: A well-fed lawn is a healthy lawn, and a healthy lawn is the best defense against weeds. Regular feedings with Scotts® Turf Builder® Lawn Food (or, if you live in the south, Scotts® Turf Builder® Southern Lawn Food) help your grass grow thick and strong, crowding out weeds.
Prevent Weeds: The best way to control weeds is to stop them before they have a chance to sprout.
Apply Scotts® Turf Builder® Halts® Crabgrass Preventer with Lawn Food in early spring to prevent crabgrass, oxalis, and other listed weeds.
In the fall, apply Scotts® Halts® Crabgrass & Grassy Weed Preventer to stop annual bluegrass seeds from sprouting.
Kill Weeds: When weeds do appear in the lawn, stop them early before they become a bigger problem. Be sure to choose a product that's safe for your grass type.
Use Scotts® Turf Builder® Weed & Feed5 on bermudagrass and other listed lawn types to kill actively growing weeds while feeding to promote a thick lawn to crowd out future weeds.
For St. Augustinegrass or centipedegrass lawns, use Scotts® Turf Builder® Bonus® S Southern Weed and Feed2.

Important Note: Always read and follow the product label direction when using any lawn food or weed control product.

The Bottom Line

Dealing with lawn weeds is an ongoing process, but with a little knowledge and the right approach, you can achieve a weed-free lawn. Remember, a healthy, thick lawn is your best defense!